Cyperaceae

Sedge family: sedges, cotton-grasses, club-rushes

From Streeter et al., 2016, 'Family Key':

"Perianth absent; flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual; subtended by single bract. Inflorescence consisting of several spikes or single terminal spike. Stems often 3-angled, solid with leaves in 3 ranks (e.g. true sedges, Carex) or cylindrical."

For the specimen(s) below, hover over image in gallery for description and select for a full screen preview.

ID: 037

Date: 10 Jun 2024

Locality: Old canal, Buckingham

Location (Lat/Long): 51.998, -0.969

Landscape/habitat: At the side of an old part of a canal. This short portion of canal has been restored by a local preservation society.

Identification notes: I came here searching for rushes and sedges. This initially made me think of a rush, rather than a sedge, as the stem is round. But know I know that sedges Cyperaceae can have round stems as well!

From Streeter et al. (2016, p. 554) description with my observations:

• 'Stems smooth, round in section'

• 'Inflorescences with numerous spikelets'

• Habitat: 'Shallow water of slow-moving rivers, dykes, canals...' (which fits)

I could not determine the number of stigmas. Looking at the illustrations, the only similar species could be the Grey club-rush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, This states it is similar to S. lacustris but often in coastal or estuarine waters (this one isn't). Also, that the 'centre of glumes with numerous reddish papillae' that I could not see.

Name: Common club-rush, Schoenoplectus lacustris

ID: 037

Date: 10 Jun 2024

Locality: Buckingham

Location (Lat/Long): 52.002, -0.973

Landscape/habitat: In a garden border, shaded area.

Identification notes: This sedge was tall and forming a tussock. The stems were clearly 3-sided, so a more obvious candidate for a sedge than the Common club-rush!

From Streeter et al. (2016, p. 574) description with my observations:

• 'Stems sharply 3-angled' (quite clearly 3-angled when feeling and viewing the stem)

• Leaves with 'ligules long' (which they seem to be)

• Inflorescences 'narrowly cylindrical, long...becoming pendent' (the way the inflorescence hangs is very obvious)

The illustration also matches the form I could see. I checked in another book by Price (2021, p.57) which also matched the description.

Name: Pendulous Sedge, Carex pendula

References

Price, D. (2021) A field guide to grasses, sedges and rushes. The Species Recovery Trust.

Streeter, D., Hart-Davies, C., Hardcastle, A., Cole, F. and Harper, L. (2016) Collins wild flower guide. Revised and updated 2nd edition. edn. London: William Collins.